What Is Vitamin B12

TREATMENT FOR VITAMIN B12 DIFFICIENCY

·  Treatment for this condition involves replacing the missing vitamin B12

·  People who cannot absorb vitamin B12 need regular injections

·  Vitamin B12 deficiency resulting from poor dietary intake can be reversed by taking oral vitamin B12 supplements and adding foods containing B12.

WHAT IS VITAMIN B12?

Vitamin B12 helps maintain healthy nerve cells and red blood cells. It is also needed to make DNA, the genetic material in all cells

WHAT FOODS PROVIDE VITAMIN B12?

Vitamin B12 is naturally found in foods that come from animals including:

·  Fish

·  Meat

·  Poultry

·  Eggs

·  Milk

·  Milk products

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF VITAMIN B12 DIFFICIENCY?

·  Anaemia

·  Tiredness

·  Weakness

·  Constipation

·  Loss of appetite

·  Weight loss

·  Depression

·  Confusion

·  Poor memory

Soreness of mouth & tongue

WHAT CAUSES VITAMIN B12 DIFFICIENCY?

·  Not eating enough foods that contain vitamin B12. A vegetarian diet can cause deficiency because vitamin B12 is only found in foods from animals.

·  If the stomach is unable to absorb Vitamin B12.

·  Diseases of the small intestine

PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF ANAEMIA

The prevention and treatment of anaemia involves:

·  Eating a diet rich in iron along with Vitamin C-rich foods (oranges, cherries)

·  Avoiding green tea, coffee, cocoa, egg yolk, and milk when taking iron.

·  Take supplements when it becomes necessary

·  Get regular check ups

WHAT IS ANEMIA?

Anaemia is a condition caused by lack of red blood cells or a lack of haemoglobin in the red blood cells. Haemoglobin is the protein in the blood which carries oxygen to all the tissues in the body. This lack of haemoglobin may be due to:

·  Lack of iron in the body

·  Loss of blood

·  Badly formed red blood cells

WHAT ARE THE FOODS RICH IN IRON?

·  Meat – liver, heart, kidney, sardines

·  Dried peas & beans – gungo peas, black-eye peas, red peas & bread beans

·  Dark green leafy vegetables –

v  pak choi,

v  cabbage,

v  callaloo

v  Broccoli

·  molasses

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF ANAEMIA?

·  Unusual tiredness

·  Extreme lack of energy

·  Pale skin

·  Difficulty in breathing

·  Unusual heartbeat

·  Giddiness

·  Headaches

·  The most reliable way of telling whether a person is anaemic is by testing the blood